Mezzo-soprano Erin Alford has been praised for her “vocal sheen” and “stage presence that mark her as a young artist with a bright future.” This season, Erin makes her house and role debut as Second Woman and Dido cover in Dido and Aeneas with Opera San José, returns to Pensacola Opera as Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte, and joins Opera Santa Barbara as a Chrisman Studio Artist, covering Hannah After in As One. As a 2020-2021 Pensacola Opera Artist in Residence, Erin performed Mercédès—and covered the title role—in Carmen, Cousin Hebe in H.M.S. Pinafore, the title role in the education production Cinderella, and Giannetta in Heartbreak High. Additionally in the 20-21 season, Erin was awarded an Encouragement Award by the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Kansas City District and a Bonnie Bell Encouragement Award from the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition. A Long Beach native, Erin has performed regularly with LA Opera Connects in touring school productions and recitals, and was recently featured as Chorus Soloist on the mainstage in the world-premiere of Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice. A passionate recitalist, Erin recently gave a recital for NATS-LA that focused on the music of women composers Other favorite roles performed include Dorabella in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, the title role in Massenet’s Chérubin, and Sister Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking. Erin received her Master of Music in Opera Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSULB, and her Bachelor of Art in Music from UC Berkeley.